Biography

Ranks No. 1 in franchise history (since 1975) with 1,025 tackles, having surpassed John Anderson (1,020 from 1978-89) for the team mark in the 2013 regular-season finale.

Has posted 100-plus tackles in four consecutive seasons (2010-13) and in seven of his eight years in the NFL (2006-08, 2010-13).

Has led the team in tackles five times during his career (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012-13), which ties LB Nick Barnett for the franchise record (since 1975).

Appeared in 126 of a possible 128 regular-season games in his first eight seasons, starting 123 of them. Missed the only games of his career in 2011 after suffering a calf injury at Detroit in Week 12.

His 126 regular-season games played as a Packer are the most by any player on the current roster.

Started all 16 games in 2013 and led the team with 153 tackles (112 solo), the second-highest total of his career. Added a career-best five sacks.

The lone constant in an ILB group beset by injuries in 2012, he started all 16 games for the first time since 2008 and led the defense with 142 tackles (105 solo).

Started all 14 games in which he appeared in 2011, missing the first two contests of his career following a calf injury suffered in the first half of the team’s Week 12 game at Detroit.

Finished third on the team in ’11 with 104 tackles (73 solo), in addition to posting 1½ sacks and five passes defensed. Was also voted by teammates to serve as a playoff captain for the second consecutive season.

Enjoyed one of his best seasons in 2010 as he took on a bigger role than in previous years, assuming the lead communicator duties between the coaches and the huddle in the absence of Barnett, who missed the final 12 games with a wrist injury.

With injuries to Barnett and veteran LB Brandon Chillar, rarely came off the field in 2010 and wound up leading the team with 134 tackles (97 solo). Posted a career-high three interceptions, which tied him for the NFL lead among linebackers.

Was named a Pro Bowl alternate in 2010, but was credited with his first career selection because he would have been added to the all-star roster as an emergency injury replacement had the Packers not been preparing for Super Bowl XLV.

Despite seeing his snap count go down in ’09 compared to his first four seasons because of the Packers’ frequent use of sub-packages, was one of only 10 linebackers in the NFL to post at least 85 tackles, two interceptions and a sack.

In 2008, played through chest and groin injuries to lead the Packers in tackles for the second time in his career after moving from weak-side to middle linebacker in the second half of the season to replace the injured Barnett.

His team-leading 155 tackles in 2006 were the second most ever recorded by a Packers’ rookie (Rich Wingo, 166 in 1979), and his 112 solo tackles ranked third in the league.

Finished third in The Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and earned a spot on the Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team.

The first linebacker taken in the 2006 draft after being a consensus All-American each of his final two seasons at Ohio State. One of only two linebackers taken among the top five selections over a period of nine NFL drafts (1998-2006), joining LaVar Arrington (No. 2 overall, 2000).

Followed the likes of Lawrence Taylor (1981), Derrick Thomas (1989), Junior Seau (1990) and Willie McGinest (1994) as one of only 29 linebackers drafted in the top five since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

COLLEGE

Played in 51 games at Ohio State with 38 starts, collecting 394 tackles (196 solo), 41 stops for a loss, 15½ sacks, seven INTs, 13 passes broken up, two fumbles recovered and three forced fumbles; also returned both a blocked punt and INT for TDs…A three-year starter (2003-05), he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors each of those seasons…Available for every play during his college career, he started his final 37 contests in consecutive fashion…Earned his degree in criminology.

PERSONAL

Given name Aaron James Hawk…Nicknamed “A.J.” by his parents since birth, after legendary Indy car driver A.J. Foyt…Born in Kettering, Ohio…Married the former Laura Quinn, whose brother Brady was a 2007 first-round pick by the Cleveland Browns…The couple wed prior to his first NFL training camp in a civil ceremony, then had a more traditional wedding ceremony in March 2007…The couple has a 3-year-old daughter, Lennon Noel, and a 1-year-old son, Hendrix Knight…Brother, Ryan, played QB for the Birmingham Steeldogs of Arena Football “2” and played in college at Ohio University…High school: Lettered four years at Centerville (Ohio) High School, playing MLB, RB and QB…Also handled punting chores for two seasons, and served as placekicker as a senior…Finished with 585 career tackles, including 142 as a freshman starter…Averaged better than 40 yards per punt as a senior…Didn’t attract great national attention mostly due to a knee injury that sidelined him much of his final season, limiting him to only 82 tackles…Also earned a pair of letters (as a freshman and sophomore) playing point guard on the Centerville basketball team…Community involvement: Held the third annual “Mane Event” in Columbus, Ohio, in June 2014, which raised over $50,00 for “Hawk’s Locks For Kids”...Participated with the NFL’s Play 60 Super School program in 2012, speaking at an elementary school assembly and taking part in a gym class...Joined the winning child at Valley View Elementary School for “Take a Player to School” in 2009…Was also chosen by a local McKinley Elementary student for “Take a Player to School” day and spoke to students about health and fitness in ’08…Also visited with local elementary students the past four years as their reward for participating in the Packers’ Women’s Association food drive…Has supported the Jerry Parins Cruise for Cancer, the Donald Driver Foundation, the Greg Jennings Foundation, the Al Harris Outreach Program and The 2nd & 7 Foundation, which is the charity of fellow OSU alum Mike Vrabel…Has been on the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer five times, which raises money for the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research…Is a spokesman for the Wisconsin Special Olympics, a cause he takes particular interest in because a relative of his used to compete…Attends the Wisconsin Special Olympics opening ceremony in Stevens Point, Wis. …Hobbies/interests: Is the host of his own podcast, where he interviews people from all walks of life...Past guests have included John Daly, Joe Buck, Chris Cassidy and Bret Michaels...Holds B.A. degree in criminology and is interested in law enforcement following his NFL career…Grew his hair long in 2005 as a tribute to the late Pat Tillman, the former NFL player who lost his life while serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan…Kept it long for seven years, before cutting it in March 2012 and donating the trimmings to “Wigs For Kids,” a charitable organization that makes wigs for children who have lost their hair during chemotherapy treatments…Made the donation as a preamble to the formation of his own charity, “Hawk’s Locks For Kids,” that supports similar causes and donations…Hosted the first annual Hawk’s Locks For Kids Fundraiser at the Skyline Comedy Club in Appleton, Wis., in November 2012…The event featured an evening of stand-up comedy and a meet-and-greet beforehand with Hawk, and raised more than $6,000 in ticket and silent-auction proceeds for the charity…Maintains friendships with former Buckeyes Bobby Carpenter, Nick Mangold (N.Y. Jets) and Anthony Schlegel…Threw out the first pitch at a Milwaukee Brewers game in April 2007; also took batting practice in full baseball uniform and hit two HRs…Traveled to Rome, Paris and London with his wife during the offseason in 2010…Enjoys dog training and breeding and playing cornhole…Captured the title of “Celebrity Long Drive” at the American Century Celebrity Golf Classic in Lake Tahoe, Nev., in both 2008 and 2011…Presented an award at the Cartoon Network Awards during the offseason in 2010…Attended the ESPYs in 2011…Lists Top Gun as his favorite movie…His favorite book is Good to Go, a firsthand narrative told by Navy S.E.A.L. Harry Constance…Residence: Split between Columbus, Ohio, and Green Bay.

Pro Highlights

Ranks No. 1 in franchise history (since 1975) with 1,025 tackles, having surpassed John Anderson (1,020 from 1978-89) for the team mark in the 2013 regular-season finale.

Has posted 100-plus tackles in four consecutive seasons (2010-13) and in seven of his eight years in the NFL (2006-08, 2010-13).

Has led the team in tackles five times during his career (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012-13), which ties LB Nick Barnett for the franchise record (since 1975).

Appeared in 126 of a possible 128 regular-season games in his first eight seasons, starting 123 of them. Missed the only games of his career in 2011 after suffering a calf injury at Detroit in Week 12.

His 126 regular-season games played as a Packer are the most by any player on the current roster.

Started all 16 games in 2013 and led the team with 153 tackles (112 solo), the second-highest total of his career. Added a career-best five sacks.

The lone constant in an ILB group beset by injuries in 2012, he started all 16 games for the first time since 2008 and led the defense with 142 tackles (105 solo).

Started all 14 games in which he appeared in 2011, missing the first two contests of his career following a calf injury suffered in the first half of the team’s Week 12 game at Detroit.

Finished third on the team in ’11 with 104 tackles (73 solo), in addition to posting 1½ sacks and five passes defensed. Was also voted by teammates to serve as a playoff captain for the second consecutive season.

Enjoyed one of his best seasons in 2010 as he took on a bigger role than in previous years, assuming the lead communicator duties between the coaches and the huddle in the absence of Barnett, who missed the final 12 games with a wrist injury.

With injuries to Barnett and veteran LB Brandon Chillar, rarely came off the field in 2010 and wound up leading the team with 134 tackles (97 solo). Posted a career-high three interceptions, which tied him for the NFL lead among linebackers.

Was named a Pro Bowl alternate in 2010, but was credited with his first career selection because he would have been added to the all-star roster as an emergency injury replacement had the Packers not been preparing for Super Bowl XLV.

Despite seeing his snap count go down in ’09 compared to his first four seasons because of the Packers’ frequent use of sub-packages, was one of only 10 linebackers in the NFL to post at least 85 tackles, two interceptions and a sack.

In 2008, played through chest and groin injuries to lead the Packers in tackles for the second time in his career after moving from weak-side to middle linebacker in the second half of the season to replace the injured Barnett.

His team-leading 155 tackles in 2006 were the second most ever recorded by a Packers’ rookie (Rich Wingo, 166 in 1979), and his 112 solo tackles ranked third in the league.

Finished third in The Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and earned a spot on the Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team.

The first linebacker taken in the 2006 draft after being a consensus All-American each of his final two seasons at Ohio State. One of only two linebackers taken among the top five selections over a period of nine NFL drafts (1998-2006), joining LaVar Arrington (No. 2 overall, 2000).

Followed the likes of Lawrence Taylor (1981), Derrick Thomas (1989), Junior Seau (1990) and Willie McGinest (1994) as one of only 29 linebackers drafted in the top five since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

COLLEGE

Played in 51 games at Ohio State with 38 starts, collecting 394 tackles (196 solo), 41 stops for a loss, 15½ sacks, seven INTs, 13 passes broken up, two fumbles recovered and three forced fumbles; also returned both a blocked punt and INT for TDs…A three-year starter (2003-05), he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors each of those seasons…Available for every play during his college career, he started his final 37 contests in consecutive fashion…Earned his degree in criminology.

PERSONAL

Given name Aaron James Hawk…Nicknamed “A.J.” by his parents since birth, after legendary Indy car driver A.J. Foyt…Born in Kettering, Ohio…Married the former Laura Quinn, whose brother Brady was a 2007 first-round pick by the Cleveland Browns…The couple wed prior to his first NFL training camp in a civil ceremony, then had a more traditional wedding ceremony in March 2007…The couple has a 3-year-old daughter, Lennon Noel, and a 1-year-old son, Hendrix Knight…Brother, Ryan, played QB for the Birmingham Steeldogs of Arena Football “2” and played in college at Ohio University…High school: Lettered four years at Centerville (Ohio) High School, playing MLB, RB and QB…Also handled punting chores for two seasons, and served as placekicker as a senior…Finished with 585 career tackles, including 142 as a freshman starter…Averaged better than 40 yards per punt as a senior…Didn’t attract great national attention mostly due to a knee injury that sidelined him much of his final season, limiting him to only 82 tackles…Also earned a pair of letters (as a freshman and sophomore) playing point guard on the Centerville basketball team…Community involvement: Held the third annual “Mane Event” in Columbus, Ohio, in June 2014, which raised over $50,00 for “Hawk’s Locks For Kids”...Participated with the NFL’s Play 60 Super School program in 2012, speaking at an elementary school assembly and taking part in a gym class...Joined the winning child at Valley View Elementary School for “Take a Player to School” in 2009…Was also chosen by a local McKinley Elementary student for “Take a Player to School” day and spoke to students about health and fitness in ’08…Also visited with local elementary students the past four years as their reward for participating in the Packers’ Women’s Association food drive…Has supported the Jerry Parins Cruise for Cancer, the Donald Driver Foundation, the Greg Jennings Foundation, the Al Harris Outreach Program and The 2nd & 7 Foundation, which is the charity of fellow OSU alum Mike Vrabel…Has been on the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer five times, which raises money for the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research…Is a spokesman for the Wisconsin Special Olympics, a cause he takes particular interest in because a relative of his used to compete…Attends the Wisconsin Special Olympics opening ceremony in Stevens Point, Wis. …Hobbies/interests: Is the host of his own podcast, where he interviews people from all walks of life...Past guests have included John Daly, Joe Buck, Chris Cassidy and Bret Michaels...Holds B.A. degree in criminology and is interested in law enforcement following his NFL career…Grew his hair long in 2005 as a tribute to the late Pat Tillman, the former NFL player who lost his life while serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan…Kept it long for seven years, before cutting it in March 2012 and donating the trimmings to “Wigs For Kids,” a charitable organization that makes wigs for children who have lost their hair during chemotherapy treatments…Made the donation as a preamble to the formation of his own charity, “Hawk’s Locks For Kids,” that supports similar causes and donations…Hosted the first annual Hawk’s Locks For Kids Fundraiser at the Skyline Comedy Club in Appleton, Wis., in November 2012…The event featured an evening of stand-up comedy and a meet-and-greet beforehand with Hawk, and raised more than $6,000 in ticket and silent-auction proceeds for the charity…Maintains friendships with former Buckeyes Bobby Carpenter, Nick Mangold (N.Y. Jets) and Anthony Schlegel…Threw out the first pitch at a Milwaukee Brewers game in April 2007; also took batting practice in full baseball uniform and hit two HRs…Traveled to Rome, Paris and London with his wife during the offseason in 2010…Enjoys dog training and breeding and playing cornhole…Captured the title of “Celebrity Long Drive” at the American Century Celebrity Golf Classic in Lake Tahoe, Nev., in both 2008 and 2011…Presented an award at the Cartoon Network Awards during the offseason in 2010…Attended the ESPYs in 2011…Lists Top Gun as his favorite movie…His favorite book is Good to Go, a firsthand narrative told by Navy S.E.A.L. Harry Constance…Residence: Split between Columbus, Ohio, and Green Bay.